Switch-operating device.



no. 707,929. Patented Aug. 26, |902.

F. s. Jones.

SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

(Application led Dec. 14, 1'90I.)'

(No Model.)

nnnnnn'nnnn i Unirse STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

FRANK S. JONES, OF EXPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-OPERATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,929, dated August26, 1902.

Application iiled December 14,1901. Serial No. 85,902. (No model.) v

To @ZZ '1r/71.071?, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK S. JONES, aciti- Zen of the United States,residing at Export, in the county of Westmoreland and State ofPennsylvania, have inventeda new and useful Switch-Operating Device, ofwhich the following is a specification. y

This invention relates generally to switchoperating devices; and theobject of the invention is to provide a switch-operating device whichcan be operated from the car-platform while the car is in motion andapproaching the switch. x

Another object of the invention is to provide a switchpperating deviceof this character .capable of use in connection with switches and carsnowin ccm mon use; and another object is to provide a device which willbe sure to effectively operate the switch whether the car is movingrapidly or slowly.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists inconnecting the switchpoints so that they will move in unison and inproviding oppositely-disposed operatingrods which cross each other, areconnected to the switch-points at one end, and are formedat theiropposite ends for engagement witha depending shoe carried by the car andadapted to belowered when it is desired to operate the switch.

The invention consists alsoin certain novel features of construction andcombination hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is aview, partly in section` and partly in elevation, illustrating theoperating means carried by the car and the manner of engaging theoperating-rod connected to the switch-point. Fig. 2 is-a plan View ofthe switch-operating mechanism, the' connecting and operating rods beingconcealed by the protecting-cover, the dotted lines indicating theposition of said parts beneath the cover. Fig. 3 is a plan View, the

protecting-cover being removed and the po usual, at the juncture of themain and switch rails and which may be of the usual or any approvedconstruction. VThese switch-points C are connected by means of aconnecting or cross rod D, said rod being pivotally connected at itsVopposite ends to the said switchpoints'adjacent to their free ends, andconnected also to the said switch-points, and preferably by means ot'the same bolts, are the operating-rods E, and it may therefore be saidthat the said operating-rods are connected to both the switch-points andthe connecting or cross bar. These operating-rods extend in diagonallyopposite directions, crossing each other at E', and at their free endsare bent upwardly, as shown at E2, or they may be provided with anupwardly-projecting arm or lug, said upwardly-projecting portion E2beingV arranged at such an angle that it will rest against the innerface of the.

main rail A, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In order to preventthe operatingrods contacting with each other where they cross, one ofthesaid rods is bent upwardly, as shown at E3, and the other one bentdownwardly, as shown at E, thereby providing an ample clearance wherethey cross each other.

In order to operate the switch so as to throw the points lin the desireddirection, one of the operating-rods is operated by pushing upon theupturned end E2- Thus to throw the points to theright the left-hand yrod is operated,'t being readily understood thatin push`` ing theupturned end E2 along the rail toward the switch the pressure or forceapplied along,

the diagonal rod will force the right-hand switch-point in thatdirection,`and inasmuch as the said switch-points are connected thelefthand switch-point will simultaneously -move to the right.` When -itis desired 4to,

move the switch-points to the left, the righthandoperating-rod isoperated,and the switchn points will then be-forced to the left.

In order to operatethe rods E from the car, I'employ a depending leg F,carrying a shoe F' at its lower end, which shoe is adapted to contactwith the upwardly-projectingend E2 of the operating-rod, and it will ofcourse be understood that two legs F are employed, one at each side ofthe car-platform, said legs being pivoted to the depending brackets F2and each of which is provided with a push-rod G,

which projects upwardly through the car-platform and which carries acap-plate G', and between the cap-plate G and the car-platform isarranged a spiral spring G2, the purpose of which is to normally holdthe shoe F' above the h lrail and out of contact with the upturned endE2. When it is desired to operate the switch from the bottom of the car,the motorman presses upon the cap-plate G,forcing the pushrod Gdownwardly,`which in turn pushes the leg,Y F into such position that theshoe Ff will contact with the end E2 as the car moves *forwardly, andthe shoe F', coming in contact with the said end, will throw theoperatingrod in the proper direction to shift the switchpoints.

In order to protect the connecting and op shoe F may drop into the saidslots behind the said ends E2, thereby insuring the positive action ofthe upper rod and consequently of the switch.

. It will thus be seen that I provide an eX- ceedingly cheap, simple,and efficient device for operating a switch from the car while the saidcar is in motion, and approaching the switch.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The combination with the switch-points pivo'tally connected by across-bar, of operatingrods pivotally secured to the cross-bar, andcrossing each other, said rods bent away from each other at the point ofcrossing, the free `ends of the rods provided with upwardly-projectingportions, said portionsresting against the inner faces of The rails,means for contacting the upwardly-projecting portions, whereby thepoints are shifted, and a protecting-casing arranged about thecross-bars and the operating-rods.

FRANK S. JONES.

Vitnesses:

JOHN MCGINN, C. E. BERLIN.

